Sound-receiving apparatus used in submarine sound-signaling.



J. GARDNER.

SoUND RECEIVING APPARATUS USED IN SUBMAEINE SOUND SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 27, 1909.

19129,565 Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

yl@ WMM UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.I

JOHN GARDNER, 0F KNTT END, NEAR FLEETWOOD, ENGLAND.

som-RECEIVING meneurs UsEnIN SUBMAEINE SOUND-SIGNALING.

Specictionof Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application med net-ember 27, 190e. serial no. 534,933.

Fleetwood, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Sound-Receiving Apparatus Used in SubmarineSound-Signaling, of which the following is' a specification.

This invention 'relates to improvements in the microphonic appliancescapable of use` at a` receiving station for receiving and transmittingsubmarine sound signals so that such signals may be heard in atelephonic receiver vor like instrument or if de- -sired so that suchsubmarine sounds may upon their arrival at the receiving station giveany desired signal or signals or initiate or eiect any desired operationor operations.

The improved appliances comprise a vi,

bratory circular or other loop, ring, or the like ofmetal or othersuitable material` which when used on shipboard is diametri callyattached to or in contact with the face of the diaphragm which may bevibrated by the submarine or other sound vibrations. This diaphragm maybe connected to or with or be directly thrown into vibration by the skinor Wall of the ship when a ship is the receiving station, or it mayitself be part of one or the plates of such ship, or any suitable formof diaphragm used in submarine sound signaling may be eniployed. Theloop or ring must be' of such dimensions and material and be so attachedto the diaphragm that when lateral vibrations ofthe latter are set up adiameter of the ring lrapidly increases and diminishes in length as a'consequence of s uch vibrations and the inertia of that part of the loopor ring which is opposite to the point l at which the ring is connectedtothe diaphragm. One at least of the electrodes of a microphone ortelephonic transmitter included in a proper electric circuit containinga telephonic receiver or the'lke is attached to a suitable part of thering or' loop so as to be effected by the lateral vibrations of thediaphragm referred to, and preferably, and to get the best effect, theelectrode is attached to .one end of a diameter of the loop which isabout parallel to the diaphragm and is itselfabout perpendicular to suchdiameter. In .a'iln'o' recelvln station such as a shipjthe l ameterould.

point fore and aft and to get the best effect the ring should bedisposed in about a horil be of any suitable type.

My invention will be understood by reference to the drawings in which-`Figures 1' to-'Z show various formsof the improved ring or loop borne f'transmitter or microphone and their attachment to their diaphragms. j

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4-A is a vibrator metallic ring (forexample brass) which is connected in the manner shown by the screw -Blto the sound receiving diaphragm. The 'diaphragmv in this instanceconsists of a vibratory metallic 'casing C which is secured by thescrews D Yto the inner surface of the plate E which is one of theunderwater plates of a ship. At opposite ends of a diameter of the ring,convenl iently a diameter which is about parallel to ln'g or diaphragmIn the form shown in side elevation in Fig. 1 and in horizontal sectionin Fig. 2 there isa complete microphone or telephonic transmitter F ofthe known inertia type at each'end of the diameter of the ring. Thesetransmitters may be in -parallel circuit with one another as -1 shown inFig.. 1 (the circuit being completedthrough themetallic frame work) ormay be connected in series. The two transmitters shown aresimultaneously and similarlyaffected by the vibrations through and as aresult of the single connection to the casingthrough the screw.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the ring is not circular but is roughly ovaland the 'electrodes which are connected to opposite ends of a diameterof the loop are electrodes of `one-and the same microphone F ortransmitter which is contained within the loop oli ring. In themodification shown in Fig.

' 4 the electrodes arefmounted in the they are connected with a carbonpenci and the ring in th1s case being circular:

The ring l may be selective 1nv action and only responsive to any greatextent to thesound which is used for lthe signal which" the appliance isto receive. Such selectivity may be effected if necessaryfby variablyloading the ring opposite to its point of attachment to the dlaphragm bya variable. weight G, or, as isshown Avin '5by di' l viding the ring orloop at a point which is opposite to the point of attachment to thediaphragm, and by joining the divided ends together by anadjustable-straining or like screw H the .strainof which may be .variedlf desired the divided ring described with reference .to Fig. 5 may haveyits ends left unconnected as in Fig. 7.

The casing carrying the improved microl phone appliance maybe rigidly'connected to the plate E as shown in Figs. l 'and 2, or maybe otherwisesecured thereto as thought best.

As is well known the proper sound vibrations arriving through water andimpmgmg on a diaphragm of thenature indicated imi will be affected onlyto the minimum extent.

by movements of the receivingstation. To diminish the effect ofvibrations of great amplitude an elastic or damping pad may be usedninconnection with the electrode or electrodes mounted on the ring or loop,and

as shown in Fig. 6 by the india-rubber ringl K. Further reduction of theeffects of local vibration and sound may be secured by the insertion ofan adjustable resistance in the microphone and telephoniev receivercircuit. Enough resistance is put into the circuit to 'V so diminish thesensitivity of the telephonie receiver as to just about extinguishtherein the local noises. Thestrength of the desired signaling sounds isofcourse also diminished but not correspondingly so, as thetelephonicreceiver would have a diaphragm which has a natural period of vibrationroughly corresponding with the vibratory periods of the sounds usuallyemployed in submarine signaling. The variable resistance may be put incircuit to anyf extent according to local conditions or may be cut outaltogether, as, .for example, if the ship be stopped. Or the like effectof extinguishing any but the proper sounds may be achieved by reducingthe vsensitivity of the telephonie receiver by moving its diaphragmoutwardly away Aas hereinbefore described.

from the position l'in which the best ordinaryresults are attained. Thismay be done by mounting the diaphragm in the case ofl an O'rdinaryauraltelephone in a screw cap f and unscrewing the cap. Or 'packing ofvariable thicknesses may be placed below the diaphragm.

Although the improved microphonic api pliances have been hereindescribed chie as for ship work, they areof course equally applicablefor other. work and at other recelving stations.

- I .dojnot mean to theuexact construction lshown as `other embodimentsof my invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Moreover, itsuse' isnot'limited to submarine signaling.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. A sound receiving and transmittingappliance, compising in combination-a diaphragm,.a vi ratory ringattached thereto portions of said ring opposite the point-'oi attachmentbeing adapted for vibration, and a. microphone connected to andoperat'edby such ring, all Vsubstantially as hereinbe'fore described.

2. A sound receiving and transmittingaprpliance comprising incombination a dia phragm, a vibratory ring attached thereto', and amicrophone connected to and operated by said ring, all substantially.ashereinbefore described. v

-3. A sound receiving and\transmitting appliance, comprising incombination adia;

phragm, a vibratory ring attached thereto portions of said ring oppositethe ointjo attachment being adapted for free'vibration, and a pluralityof microphones connected. to and operated 'by such ring, substantially4. In a sound receiving and transmitting appliance, a diaphragmcomprising a casing, a vibratory ring attached thereto, and a microphoneconnected to and operated by said ring. 1'

5. A sound receiving andtransmitting appliance, comprising incombination a vda phragm, a vibratory ring attached thereto andunsupported except at such oint of atL tachment, and a microphone avingtwo electrodes both of which are carried by. such ring, allsubstantially as hereinbeforedescribed.

6. A sound receiving and transmitting appliance, comprising incombination a diaphragm, a vibratory 'ring attached. thereto andunsupported except at such point o# attachment, and a plurality ofmicrophones each having aplurality of electrodes,'said electrodes `beingcarried by such ring,- all substantially as hereinbefore described.

7 A sound receiving and transmitting appliance comprising combination a.diaphragm, a vibratoryiaf'mg attached thereto and unsupported exceptat-such point of atlimit my invention to lao tachment, and a microphonehaving two electrodes both of which are carried by said ring, saidmicrophone being adapted to form part of an electric circuit comprisinga source of current and a telephone receiver whereby its action may betransmitted and received by 'said telephone receiver.

8. A sound receiving and transmitting appliance, comprising a diaphragm,a vibratory ring attached to said diaphragm, the plane of the ring beingsubstantially normal to the surface of the diaphragm, a microphoneconnected to and operated by such ring, the point of attachment of themicrophone to the ring being spaced from the point of attachment of thering to the diaphragm by a distance substantially equal to one-quarterof the perimeter of the ring.

9. A sound receiving and transmitting appliance, comprising a diaphragm,a vibratory ring attached to said diaphragm, the

V plane of said ring being substantially normal to the surface of saiddiaphragm, a pair of microphones attached to said ring at opposite endsof a diameter thereof which is'substantially parallel to the diaphragm,and means for mounting said diaphragm.

10. Sound receiving and transmitting apparatus, comprising incombination, a dia.- phragm, a vibratory ring attached thereto, and amicrophone connected to and operated by said ring, said ring being tunedto vibrations of predetermined frequency.

11. Sound receiving and transmitting apparatus, comprising incombination, a diaphragm, a vibratory ring attached thereto, and amicrophone connected to and operated by said ring, and means carried bysaid ring whereby said ring may be tuned. to vibrations of predeterminedfrequency.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN GARDNER.

Witnesses:

.WILLIAM GEO. HEYs,

JOHN OCONNELL.

